With the Hodgman Government’s new ICT direction, Tasmania’s economy is better connected and empowered today than ever before, with the decision to fund six contracts valued at $105 million to support the State’s vital communications network infrastructure. Today I am very pleased to announce four locally based companies have been chosen to provide connection and data centre services under panel arrangements to be accessed by Government agencies.
The successful tenderers are TasmaNet, Tasmanian Networks (TasNetworks), Telstra and TPG with a total contract value of about $95 million over the next 13 years.
The new Data Centre Services, an important part of the Government’s Tasmanian Cloud policy to securely store data on-island, will initially be provided by TasmaNet and TasNetworks in an estimated spend of $10.4 million over the next 13 years. A third tenderer for data centre services is in early negotiations with the Government regarding its plans to establish new facilities in the State.
All Government services, from libraries and schools to law courts, policing and health care, depend on ICT services underpinned by critical infrastructure provided under the Networking Tasmania (NT) agreements.
We want to be able to deliver services to Tasmanians as one Government, with collaborative service delivery, rather than as a group of disparate agencies.
The idea is that Government employees should have secure and controlled access ‘anywhere, anytime’ to the ICT services which they need to do their jobs.
In July, the Government awarded TPG (formerly iiNet) a Networking Tasmania III contract for whole-of-government Internet services.
The Government transitioned from Telstra to TPG for internet services on 26 October.
Contracts under Networking Tasmania III will enable more shared ICT services, such as the Government’s new voice over IP-based telephone services, to be seamlessly and securely delivered.
Networking Tasmania Agreements are sustainable, both for Government and for suppliers, meet the Government’s needs for the next 7 to 10 years; and provide value for money by harnessing whole-of-government purchasing power.
The Government has more than 1000 fixed connections to sites, 5000 connections from mobile or other remote access services, 3000 Wi-Fi connection points, and 160 other value-added services.
All Government Agencies are required to use NT III panel arrangements. A wide range of other organisations which provide services in Tasmania are also eligible.
